World Cup snub for Trinh-Duc

Editor

France head coach Philippe Saint-André has announced his 31-man squad for the World Cup, with fly-half François Trinh-Duc one glaring omission.

Frédéric Michalak and Rémi Tales are the two number tens selected, with Rory Kockott, Morgan Parra, Sébastien Tillous-Borde the French scrum-halves.

Despite having struggled with a recent knee injury, captain Thierry Dusautoir is named and joined by Bernard Le Roux, Yannick Nyanga, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Damien Chouly and Louis Picamoles as the back-row options for les Bleus.

Missing the final cut along with Trinh-Duc is prop Xavier Chiocci, lock Sébastien Vahaamahina, number eight Loann Goujon and centre Rémi Lamerat.

France, who impressed in victory over England on Saturday, are drawn in the same pool as Ireland, Italy, Canada and Romania at the Rugby World Cup.

France's 31-man squad

Forwards: Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado, Benjamin Kayser, Dimitri Szarzewski, Alexandre Flanquart, Yoann Maestri, Pascal Papé, Thierry Dusautoir (c), Bernard Le Roux, Yannick Nyanga, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Damien Chouly, Louis Picamoles. 

Backs: Rory Kockott, Morgan Parra, Sébastien Tillous-Borde, Frédéric Michalak, Rémi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud, Alexandre Dumoulin, Gaël Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin, Sofiane Guitoune, Yoann Huget, Noa Nakaitaci, Scott Spedding.